Why You Need a Social Media Strategy Before Diving In

by Sep 30, 2021Blog, Social Media Marketing0 comments

Why You Need a Social Media Strategy Before Diving In

 

Posting on social media for your brand or client is a little like fishing.

Fishing requires a bit of forethought before you actually can catch a fish. Do you just aimlessly throw a line from a fishing pole into the first body of water you see? You definitely could. However, what are the odds that you actually catch the fish you want, or even catch one at all?

There needs to be a strategy. First off, let’s ask a few questions about your “fishing trip”:

What type of fish are you hoping to attract (your target customers)?

What bodies of water are you fishing in (different social media platforms)?

What time of day do the fish frequently bite (best posting times)?

How often are you going to go out and fish (how many times to post per week)?

What kind of bait do these fish like (messaging, content types, tone, design)?

Is there anything specific about the fish you would want to know that could help you catch them (online behavior, age/gender, where they live, or interests)?

How are you going to measure success in your day of fishing (impressions, engagement, likes, followers, website visits, or sales)?  

Okay, maybe you had the first run-through, and maybe it did not go as planned. It may be time to adjust the strategy after some analysis. Here are some questions to answer next:

Are you sure you are fishing in the right spot (is this social media platform working for you)?

Are you sure you’re going after the right kind of fish (is your target audience the right one for your brand)?

Are there any environmental factors, like unforeseen bad weather, that are affecting your fishing (are there trends or societal impacts changing the online atmosphere right now)?

Are you fishing way too much, or not enough (are you posting too often or too infrequently)?

Are the fish getting tired of the same old bait and not biting (do you need to freshen up your content to engage your followers a bit more)?

Okay, we’re done with the metaphor. We promise. Here are some tips for developing that strategy:

Tip #1

To put it succinctly, it’s time to stop guessing what your online audience wants. Dive into their mind, pick the right platforms, create great content, build up quality followers, and continue to enhance your brand. Thinking like a consumer and building that loyal community will aid your brand in the long run.

Tip #2

Laying out your goals, target customers, social media platforms, content types, optimal post times, and trends can aid in a successful social media campaign. Whether you are starting from scratch or just launching another campaign, it is healthy to take a step back and look at the big picture before pressing that “post” button.

Tip #3

Posting on social media without a clear strategy can result in lost time and potentially inadequate results. Pre-planning content and developing a strategy is much more efficient, keeping you active and prepared. It is also important to try new things, even out of your brand’s comfort zone, like partnering with influencers, sending personal messages, or potentially looking into new and emerging platforms.

Tip #4

The “Who, What, When, Where, and Why” method is helpful when strategizing. Who is your target? What is your brand sharing? When are you sharing? Where and on what platform are you sharing? Why is your brand on social media at all?

Tip #5

Following any campaign, there should be some measurement, reporting, and analysis of opportunities to improve. With clear goals in place, it is so much easier to measure and compare performance to do better the next time. Before you start your next campaign, do a full social media audit of your performance, completely understanding what works and what doesn’t. It also never hurts to check out your competitors and see what works for them.

As social media gets bigger and bigger, it’s more important than ever to go fishing (posting) with a clear strategy in mind. Setting your brand apart with fresh content and a unique campaign can lead to the achievement of your goals, whatever they may be.

 


 

Looking for an elevated, well-analyzed, and creative social media strategy that will set you up for success in the long run? We can help with that! Juxt Marketing is a marketing firm based in Atlanta, Georgia that can serve as your outsourced marketing partner from wherever you are. We can put our 20 years of experience in brand strategy, identity, graphic design, web development, and digital marketing to work for you.

Get in touch with Juxt Marketing to let us take that off your plate.